Today we’d like to introduce you to Adrienne Drake.
Hi Adrienne, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Born and raised in West Dallas with an aura others couldn’t resist. Being an introverted child turned into a remarkable woman. Allowed me to become the successful entrepreneur I am today. Growing up, my uncle Derrell Myers created a non-profit business out of the trunk of his Monte Carlo in 1994. The organization “Yes There Is a Santa” distributed toys to children across the urban areas & nursing homes around Dallas every Christmas morning. Allowing me to be a part of his legacy while only being 6 years old inspired me to wanna do the same for my community. My business Asidéjourney aesthetics started in 2020. My mission is to simply use my creativity & artistry to enhance the qualities of life in my community by donating & partnering with youth programs. We sell aesthetic graphic tees, scrunchies, & custom glasses, etc. to inspire supporters to have a piece of Aside journey no matter where they are. Aside journey is an idealization of my love for community outreach. After years of volunteering with different organizations, I felt driven to create a brand that revealed my infatuation with giving back to my community. Everything that has transpired in the 2 years of my business has led us to start our own community outreach. We host a Back-to-School Supply Drive yearly for the West Dallas Community. Spreading positivity & inspiration to the youth of the next generation isn’t everyone’s calling. I’m blessed to have been born this way to be moving in my purpose to inspire others. Like the people say, “It has to be in you not on you” & that’s why I’m grateful to be a true earth leader.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Facing the adversity of creating a business allowed Acid journey to be the successful brand it is today. Beyond the statistics of why some businesses fail, Asid’s journey took many risks & heard several “No’s”.
Building a brand to help my community is my main mission. I felt I had the face and great conversation, but I was missing the finances. Many would believe in my vision others thought I was a typical business that just “sold items for money.” Once I did more research & allowed myself to be more extroverted the struggles I faced with networking led me to strangers that turned into believers in Aside’s journey.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I use my creativity to feed off my artistry to inspire my community. Not only do my graphic design skills turn into a dope graphic tee. My art is heartfelt through the Merch supporter’s wear. Making a purchase from Aside Journey gives you hope that the youth is in great hands. Finances are the least of why I run my business. The impact I’m trying to make on not just my community but for those that are the true audience of my work is mission is why I do what I do. I’m most proud of myself for never changing. Being exactly who I am helped those to see it’s okay with being yourself. Sometimes what the word may show isn’t what it actually turns out to be.
Aside journey is authentically for the people!
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
When first starting off a business, know exactly why you want that business. It becomes not only good baggage, but it becomes your job. Come up with a mission on why your brand stands apart from any other business in this world. I’m extremely grateful I had an uncle that inspired my youth. He brought the mindset of generational wealth & I just wanna continue the legacy. Life will be hard no matter what you do, but choose your hard and enjoy it.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.Asidejourney.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/asidejourney?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=
